Downs promotes officer

"He will be the second in command," Chief Doug Babcock said Tuesday. The Ruidoso Downs City Council approved the promotion Monday in a unanimous vote.

Rupp said he owed his promotion to Babcock.

"He saw the need to get this position filled and got the process started going," Rupp said. "He arranged for the process and it was a tough process."

Babcock said the officers had to take a written test, an oral test from a board consisting of senior members of the District Attorney's office and law enforcement, have their files rated and then go through an interview with him.

Rupp scored highest on the aggregate score of these tests and interviews.

"I expect him to do a great job," Babcock said. "He is highly motivated and has lots of experience."

Rupp has been in law enforcement for more than 10 years. He started in Arizona, then worked for the Tularosa Police Department for five years before moving to the Ruidoso Downs Police Department in 2009.

Rupp's promotion fills a position that has been open since November 2010 when Cpl. James Minter resigned to move to the Artesia Police Department.

Joseph Bailey, currently a Lincoln County Sheriff's Department deputy, filed the position as acting corporal and ran the police department for four months after Police Chief Al Ortiz and Minter both departed.

Babcock said Rupp would be the first line supervisor for the patrol officers.

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